Police officer fired;

supervisor suspended

Middletown PBA

president calls action extreme

By elaine van develde

Staff Writer

Though Middletown officials cannot comment on the issue, the fact that one police officer was fired and two others were suspended last week has been confirmed.

Though neither Police Chief John Pollinger nor Township Administrator Robert Czech could comment on the personnel issue, Czech, who served as hearing officer for the disciplinary proceedings, could confirm only the basic facts, not the basis, of the decision.

Detective Wayne Bradshaw, president of Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 124, confirmed the same particulars surrounding the actions and offered his own perspective.

The crux-of-the-issue fact is that on Aug. 14, Patrolman Kevin Freibott, a five-year veteran of the department with a previously untainted record, was fired.

The action purportedly stemmed from an incident on Feb. 20 in which the off-duty officer was involved in a minor accident in Atlantic Highlands and was later found to have been without a valid license and expired registration at the time.

After the incident took place in the parking lot of the Harborside Grill in Atlantic Highlands, where Freibott backed into another vehicle, reports indicate that the two drivers exchanged information and Freibott left before police arrived.

"This was not a case of a hit-and-run," Bradshaw said. "Officer Freibott knew the driver of the other vehicle; they exchanged information and were in mutual agreement to handle it between themselves. Someone from inside the Harborside apparently called the police on their own when there was nothing wrong with the two making their own arrangements to handle the minor accident. If two parties agree in this type of situation, there’s nothing at all wrong with leaving the police out of it."

Freibott’s license was found to be invalid for 88 days when the accident occurred. But what has Bradshaw most baffled about the resulting disciplinary action is that, he claims, "Patrolman Kevin Freibott just neglected to renew his license. That he should be terminated from his employment for that reason is not only extreme but not in keeping with past disciplinary measures.

"Freibott has never been disciplined in any fashion during the entire history of his employment in Middletown. And his twice-yearly performance evaluations speak to him doing a fine job. It should also be noted that Kevin’s father was a well-respected 40-year veteran of the Middletown Police Department. The members of PBA 124 share with the Freibott family our sense of disbelief. I think the action was extreme, to say the least."

Freibott’s attorney, Charles J. Uliano of West Long Branch, could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Freibott wasn’t the only officer to suffer consequences from the incident. Though no one has made clear the precise connection, the fact that a supervising officer, Sgt. Ron McClelland, was suspended for 11 days following the disciplinary hearing was confirmed. McClelland is a 20-year veteran of the township force.

Lt. Eugene Hannafey, president of the Superior Officers Association that McClelland is a member of, was unavailable for comment as of press time.

Thomas Meckier, another 10-year veteran officer, was also suspended for three days, an action which Bradshaw says is unsubstantiated.

"There is no basis for Meckier’s suspension whatsoever," he said. "That night (Feb. 20) he was merely following the orders of a supervisor. He was told to pick up Freibott’s credentials and bring them to Atlantic Highlands that evening, which he did. That’s why we are mystified about his disciplinary action as we can find no basis for it whatsoever."

All three have appealed the decisions via the state Office of Administrative Law, and, according to Bradshaw, "all intend to be successful in their efforts."